so do not fear the people; rather fear Me, and do not barter My revelations for a paltry price. Whoever does not judge by what Allah has sent down—such people are the disbelievers (al-Māʾidah 5:44).

He also says: “Let the people of the Gospel judge by what Allah has sent down therein; and whoever does not judge by what Allah has sent down—such people are the defiantly disobedient. And We have sent down to you the Book in truth, confirming the Scripture that came before it and as a guardian over it …” (al-Māʾidah 5:47–48).

Thus Allah has made the Qur’an the arbiter over all other scriptures. It confirms them while at the same time laying bare the alterations and distortions that have found their way into them. The People of the Book had been charged with safeguarding the scriptures in their possession, yet they neither preserved nor protected them. Because of their flawed understanding, scant knowledge, corrupt aims, and betrayal of their Lord—may Allah’s unrelenting curses be upon them until the Day of Resurrection—their books were subjected to change and substitution. In those writings one now finds glaring falsehoods about Allah and His messengers—errors beyond counting or description, the like of which is found nowhere else.

Allah, Exalted is He, also says in Sūrat al-Anbiyāʾ:

“We certainly granted Moses and Aaron the Criterion, a light, and a reminder for the God-fearing—those who fear their Lord though unseen and who are apprehensive of the Hour. And this is a blessed Reminder that We have sent down; will you then deny it?” (21:48–50).

And in Sūrat al-Qaṣaṣ He says:

“When the Truth came to them from Us, they said, ‘Why has he not been given the like of what was given to Moses?’ Did they not previously disbelieve in what had been given to Moses? They said, ‘Two magicians supporting each other; we reject both of them.’ Say: ‘Then produce a Book from Allah that offers better guidance than these two, and I will follow it, if you are truthful.’” (28:48–49).

Thus Allah praised both scriptures and both messengers, peace be upon them.

The jinn said to their people, “Indeed, we have heard a Book sent down after Moses.” Likewise, when Waraqah ibn Nawfal heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ recount what he had witnessed at the very beginning of revelation and recited to him, “Recite in the name of your Lord who created—created man from a clinging clot. Recite, and your Lord is Most Generous, who taught by the pen, taught man what he did not know” (al-ʿAlaq 96:1–5), he exclaimed, “Holy, holy! This is the Namūs that was sent down to Moses son of ʿImrān.”

In short, the law of Moses—peace be upon him—was a mighty law, and his community was vast. Among them were prophets, scholars, devoted worshippers, ascetics, kings, princes, leaders, and nobles. Yet they perished and changed just as their law was altered; they were transformed into apes and swine. Ultimately, after every reckoning, their religion was abrogated, and many calamities befell them—too numerous to relate. Nonetheless, we shall present what will suffice whomever wishes to learn their story, God willing. In Him we place our trust and upon Him we rely.